Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, an insulating layer, an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. The upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed on the same the substrate via the insulating layer. A plurality of openings are formed in the upper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electric field is passed therethrough. Liquid crystal molecules are driven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer. A minor axis of each of the openings has a width in a range in which a V-T curve, which represents a relationship between voltage and transmittance ratio, does not shift with variation in the width of the minor axis.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/976,392 filed on Oct. 24, 2007, which claims priority toJapanese Priority Patent Application JP 2006-296731 filed in the JapanPatent Office on Oct. 31, 2006, the entire contents of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and,more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device that drives liquidcrystal molecules by applying voltage between an upper electrode layerand a lower electrode layer that are formed on the same substrate via aninsulating layer, wherein one of the upper electrode layer and the lowerelectrode layer is a common electrode layer and the other is a pixelelectrode layer, and a plurality of openings are formed in the upperelectrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electricfield is passed therethrough.

In regard to a display type of an existing liquid crystal displaydevice, a TN (twisted nematic) type display device has been widely used.However, the TN type display device has a limited viewing angle due toits display principle. A horizontal electric field type display devicehas been known as a solution for the above problem, in which a pixelelectrode and a common electrode are formed on the same substrate,voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrodeto thereby generate an electric field that is substantially parallel tothe substrate, and liquid crystal molecules are thus driven mainlywithin a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate.

In the horizontal electric field type display device, an IPS (in planeswitching) mode display device and an FFS (fringe field switching) modedisplay device are known. In the IPS mode display device, a comb-shapedpixel electrode and a comb-shaped common electrode are arranged incombination. In the FFS mode display device, an upper electrode layerand a lower electrode layer are formed via an insulating layer, in whichone of the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer is usedas a common electrode layer and the other is used as a pixel electrodelayer, and then openings, such as slits, are formed in the upperelectrode layer so that an electric field is passed therethrough.

It is conceivable that the relationship between the transmittance ratioof the horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device andthe driving voltage thereof is different from that of the TN modedisplay device, or the like. There have been some proposals forimprovement of the transmittance ratio of the horizontal electric fieldtype display device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-202356, forexample, describes an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, that has ahigh transmittance ratio and a high aperture ratio, in which the stripwidth of each pixel electrode is formed narrower than the distancebetween adjacent strips of an opposite electrode, the distance betweenthe strip of the pixel electrode and the strip of the correspondingopposite electrode is smaller than a cell gap, the widths of the stripsof the opposite electrode and the widths of the strips of the pixelelectrode are formed so that liquid crystal molecules present on theseelectrodes are movable owing to parabolic electric field generatedtherebetween.

As described above, JP-A-11-202356 describes display quality in the caseof the IPS mode display device, but it does not always apply to displayquality in the case of the FFS mode display device. That is, the FFSmode display device has a slit-shaped or a comb-shaped electrodestructure, which is only used for an electrode disposed on the outermostsurface side among the pixel electrode layer and the common electrodelayer, and the electrode having the slit-shaped or comb-shaped electrodestructure in the outermost surface layer is formed so that electrodeportions having the same electric potentials are arranged with openingsformed therebetween. This structure differs from that of the IPS modedisplay device. Thus, the positional relationship between the openingsand the electrode portions in the electrode disposed on the outermostsurface side, that is, the relationship between the width L of theconductive portion of each electrode portion and display quality and therelationship between the short side width S of each opening and displayquality are different from those of the IPS mode display device.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an FFSmode liquid crystal display device having an electrode structure that iscapable of improving display quality.

Aspects of the invention are based upon conditions of improved displayquality which are obtained by evaluating a degree of display quality,when the electrode width L and the minor axis S of each opening in theupper electrode layer located on the outermost surface side are changed,through simulation and experiment in the FFS mode liquid crystal displaydevice. The results are implemented by the following manners.

A first aspect of the invention provides a liquid crystal display devicethat includes a substrate, an insulating layer, an upper electrodelayer, and a lower electrode layer. The upper electrode layer and thelower electrode layer are formed on the same substrate via theinsulating layer. A plurality of openings are formed in the upperelectrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that an electricfield is passed therethrough. Liquid crystal molecules are driven byapplying voltage between the upper electrode layer and the lowerelectrode layer. A minor axis of each of the openings has a width in arange in which a V-T curve, which represents a relationship betweenvoltage and transmittance ratio, does not shift with variation in thewidth of the minor axis.

Alternatively, a second aspect of the invention provides a liquidcrystal display device that includes a substrate, an insulating layer,an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. The upperelectrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed on the samesubstrate via the insulating layer. A plurality of openings are formedin the upper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so thatan electric field is passed therethrough. Liquid crystal molecules aredriven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and thelower electrode layer. Where an electrode width, that is, a distancebetween the adjacent openings, is L and the width of a minor axis ofeach of the openings is S, and when the sum of L and S is equal to orbelow 10 μm, the electrode width L is equal to or above 2.5 μm and thewidth S of the minor axis of each of the openings is equal to or above4.0 μm.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the above aspects ofthe invention, each of the openings may be a slit opening that openswith a closed shape. In addition, in the liquid crystal display deviceaccording to the above aspects of the invention, the plurality ofopenings may form a comb-shaped opening such that one ends of theopenings are connected to each other. Furthermore, in the liquid crystaldisplay device according to the above aspects of the invention, theupper electrode layer may be a common electrode layer. Moreover, in theliquid crystal display device according to the above aspects of theinvention, the upper electrode layer may be a pixel electrode layer.Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements;

FIG. 1 is a view showing a planar configuration of a display pixel in adisplay area of an FFS mode liquid crystal display device in which anupper electrode layer is used as a common electrode and slits are formedtherein according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that is taken along the line II-II inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a planar configuration of a display pixel in adisplay area of an FFS mode liquid crystal display device in which anupper electrode layer is used as a pixel electrode and slits areprovided therein according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view that is taken along the line IV-IV inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a planar configuration of a display pixel in a display area ofan FFS mode liquid crystal display device in which an upper electrodelayer is used as a comb-shaped pixel electrode according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing electrode portions and openings in adisplay pixel according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing V-T curves that are calculated by changing anelectrode interval S according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view, showing changes in maximum transmittance ratio T,using the electrode interval S as a parameter, when an electrode width Lis changed according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing changes in maximum transmittance ratio T,using the electrode width L as a parameter, when the electrode intervalS is changed according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a graph showing changes in maximum transmittance ratio T,using the electrode width L as a parameter, when the sum of L and S ischanged according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing changes in driving voltage, using theelectrode width L as a parameter, when the electrode interval S ischanged according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing white voltages that correspond respectivelyto V10, V50, V90 and V100, which are parameters of the V-T curves, whenthe electrode interval S is changed according to the embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a graph showing how V50 depends on the electrode width L,resulting from evaluation of display panels that were madeexperimentally according to the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. An FFS mode liquid crystaldisplay device that performs display composed of three colors, that is,red (R), green (G), blue (B), will be described. Of course, for example,the display device may perform display composed of multicolor thatfurther includes C (cyan), or the like, in addition to R, G, B or maysimply perform monochrome display. In addition, the shape, structure,material, and the like, described below, are an example for illustrationand may be modified in accordance with application of the liquid crystaldisplay device, where appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a planar configuration of a display pixel, thatis, three sub pixels corresponding to three colors, in a display areawhen display is performed with three color structure composed of R, G, Bin an FFS mode liquid crystal display device 30. The FFS mode liquidcrystal display device 30 is configured so that a pixel electrode and acommon electrode are arranged on an array substrate 32, a color filter,a black matrix, and the like, are arranged on an opposite substrate thatis opposed to the array substrate 32, and a liquid crystal moleculeslayer is sealed between the substrates. FIG. 1 is a plan view of thearray substrate 32 as viewed from the opposite substrate and isvirtually, because elements arranged on the opposite substrate areomitted, a plan view of the array substrate 32. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1 with enlargedin the thickness direction, and only shows the array substrate 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the liquid crystal display device 30, a pluralityof drain wirings 46 each extend linearly (extend in a vertical directionin an example shown in FIG. 1), and a plurality of gate wirings 40 isarranged to extend in a direction that intersects with the direction inwhich the drain wirings 46 extend (that is, a perpendicular directionand also a horizontal direction in the example shown in FIG. 1).Separate regions that are defined by the plurality of drain wirings 46and the plurality of gate wirings 40 are pixel array regions, and threepixel array regions corresponding to three color composed of R, G, B areshown in FIG. 1. Here, pixels are counted in color imaging units, andthis unit is defined as one display pixel. Therefore, the pixel arrayregion herein means the region of a sub pixel. Hereinafter, the word“pixel” means a sub pixel unit unless otherwise stated. Note that thecommon electrode 60 is arranged over the entire surface of the arraysubstrate 32 or over the plurality of pixels and, therefore, FIG. 1 doesnot show the outline of the common electrode 60 except the shape linesof the slits 61.

Here, in the embodiment, a plurality of drain wirings 46 are arrangedwith the same pitch. In addition, the width of each drain wiring 46 (thesize of each drain wiring 46 along a direction in which the drainwirings 46 are arranged) is the same as well. Furthermore, FIG. 1 showsthat the shape of each drain wiring 46 is linear. However, for example,the drain wiring 46 may locally have a curved portion and extend in theabove extending direction as a whole. Moreover, the pixel array may beformed in a stripe array, a delta array, a mosaic array, or the like.

A pixel TFT 70 is arranged in each of the pixel arrangement regionswhich are defined by the drain wirings 46 and the gate wirings 40. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in each of the pixel TFTs 70, asemiconductor layer 36 (see FIG. 2) extends to form substantially aU-shape (in the drawing, the substantially U-shape is inverted upsidedown), and the gate wirings 40 extend to intersect perpendicularly withthe direction in which the drain wirings 46 are arranged across two armportions of that substantially U-shaped semiconductor layer 36. In thisconfiguration, the source electrode of each pixel TFT 70, together withthe drain electrode that is connected to the drain wiring 46, ispositioned on the same side relative to the gate wiring 40. In thismanner, the pixel TFT 70 has a configuration in which the gate wiring 40intersects with the semiconductor layer 36 twice between the source andthe drain of the semiconductor layer 36, that is, two gate electrodesare provided between the source and drain of the semiconductor layer 36.

Thus, the drain of the pixel TFT 70 is connected to the nearest drainwiring 46, while, on the other hand, the source of the pixel TFT 70 isconnected to the pixel electrode 52 through the source electrode 48. Thepixel electrode 52 is provided for each pixel and is a plate-likeelectrode that is connected to the source of the pixel TFT 70 of pixel.FIG. 1 shows the pixel electrode 52 having a rectangular shape.

The common electrode 60, as described above, is arranged on the arraysubstrate 32. However, depending on circumstances, the common electrode60 may be provided for each pixel. In the case of that configuration, acommon electrode wiring is arranged to connect the common electrodes 60of the pixels. The common electrode 60 is formed so that slits 61, whichserve as openings, are provided in a transparent electrode film layer.Each of the slits 61, when voltage is applied between the pixelelectrode 52 and the common electrode 60, passes electric field and hasthe function of generating a horizontal electric field that is mainlyparallel to the surface of the substrate.

An alignment layer is arranged on the common electrode 60 and a rubbingprocess is performed as an alignment process. A rubbing direction maybe, for example, a direction parallel to the gate wiring 40 shown inFIG. 1. The slits 61 of the common electrode 60 are formed so that thedirection in which the long side of each slit 61 extends is slightlyinclined relative to the rubbing direction. For example, the directionin which the long side of each slit 61 may be formed to be slightlyinclined at an angle of about 5 degrees relative to the rubbingdirection. The alignment layer is formed on the common electrode 60 andthe rubbing process is then performed, so that the array substrate 32 iscompleted.

Next, with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, aconfiguration of the array substrate 32 in the FFS mode liquid crystaldisplay device will be described. FIG. 2 is, as described above, across-sectional view that is taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1,showing elements in one of the pixels.

The array substrate 32 includes a transparent substrate 34, thesemiconductor layer 36, a gate insulating film 38, the gate wiring 40,an interlayer insulating film 44, the drain wiring 46, the sourceelectrode 48, a planarizing film 50, the pixel electrode 52, an FFSinsulating layer 58, and the common electrode 60.

The transparent substrate 34 is, for example, formed of glass. Thesemiconductor layer 36 is, for example, formed of polysilicon andarranged on the transparent substrate 34. The gate insulating film 38is, for example, formed of silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or the like,and arranged on the transparent substrate 34 so as to cover thesemiconductor layer 36. The gate wiring 40 is, for example, formed ofMo, Al, or the like, and arranged on the gate insulating film 38 so asto be opposed to the semiconductor layer 36. The gate wiring 40 formsthe pixel TFT 70 in cooperation with the gate insulating film 38 and thesemiconductor layer 36. Note that the gate wiring 40 may also be termeda scanning line.

The interlayer insulating film 44 is, for example, formed of siliconoxide, silicon nitride, or the like, and arranged on the gate insulatingfilm 38 so as to cover the gate wiring 40, or the like. Contact holesare formed to extend through the interlayer insulating film 44 and thegate insulating film 38 and provided at positions corresponding to thesource and drain of the pixel TFT 70 in the semiconductor layer 36. Thedrain wiring 46 is, for example, formed of metal, such as Mo, Al, or Ti.The drain wiring 46 is arranged on the interlayer insulating film 44 andconnected through one of the contact holes to the semiconductor layer36. Note that the drain wiring may also be termed as a signal line. Thesource electrode 48 is, for example, formed of the same material as thatof the drain wiring 46. The source electrode 48 is arranged on theinterlayer insulating film 44 and connected through the other contacthole to the semiconductor layer 36.

Here, in the semiconductor layer 36, a portion to which the drain wiring46 is connected is termed as the drain of the pixel TFT 70 and a portionto which the pixel electrode 52 is connected through the sourceelectrode 48 is termed as the source of the pixel TFT 70; however, theterm “drain” and “source” used may be exchanged in contrast to theabove.

The planarizing film 50 is, for example, insulating transparent resin,or the like, such as acrylic, and arranged on the interlayer insulatingfilm 44 so as to cover the drain wiring 46 and the source electrode 48.A contact hole is formed above the source electrode 48 to extend throughthe planarizing film 50.

The pixel electrode 52 is, for example, formed of transparent conductivematerial, such as ITO (indium thin oxide). The pixel electrode 52 isarranged on the planarizing film 50 and is connected through the abovecontact hole to the source electrode 48.

The FFS insulating layer 58 is an insulating film layer that is arrangedbetween the pixel electrode 52 and the common electrode 60. The FFSinsulating layer 58 is, for example, formed of silicon nitride andarranged on the planarizing film 50 so as to cover the pixel electrode52.

The common electrode 60 is, for example, formed of transparentconductive material, such as ITO. The common electrode 60 is arranged onthe FFS insulating layer 58 and connected to a common electrode wiring(not shown). The common electrode 60 is opposed to the pixel electrode52 via the FFS insulating layer 58 and has the plurality of slits 61formed at positions that are opposed to the corresponding pixelelectrode 52. Each of the slits 61 is a thin elongated and closedopening having a major axis oriented in a direction that is slightlyinclined relative to the direction in which the gate wiring 40 extends.The angle of this inclination is set in conjunction with a rubbing anglein the alignment process.

The alignment layer (not shown) is arranged on the common electrode 60.The alignment layer is a layer that has a function of initially aligningliquid crystal molecules. The alignment layer is, for example, used byperforming a rubbing process on an organic film made of polyimide, orthe like.

Thus, the common electrode 60, which is an upper electrode layer, andthe pixel electrode 52, which is a lower electrode layer, are formed onthe same transparent substrate 34 via the FFS insulating layer 58, whichis an insulating layer. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the upperelectrode layer, the lower electrode layer and the FFS insulating layerare formed on the same major surface of the substrate. The slits 61 areformed in the common electrode 60 serving as the upper electrode layer.Then, when voltage is applied between the common electrode 60 and thepixel electrode 52 serving as the lower electrode layer, it is possibleto generate a horizontal electric field that is mainly parallel to thesurface of the substrate and thereby to drive liquid crystal moleculesvia the alignment layer.

In the above embodiment, via the FFS insulating layer 58, the lowerelectrode layer serves as the pixel electrode 52 and the upper electrodelayer serves as the common electrode 60, and the slits 61 are formed inthe common electrode 60. However, it is applicable that the lowerelectrode layer serves as the common electrode 60 and the upperelectrode layer serves as the pixel electrode 52.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views of a configuration of the liquid crystaldisplay device 30 in which the lower electrode layer serves as thecommon electrode 60, the upper electrode layer serves as the pixelelectrode 52, and slits 53 are formed in the pixel electrode 52. FIG. 3and FIG. 4 correspond to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, respectively, andspecifically show the configuration of the array substrate 32. The samereference numerals used in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 denote the same or similarcomponents to those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and a specificdescription thereof is omitted.

When the upper electrode layer serves as the pixel electrode 52, asshown in FIG. 4, the pixel electrode 52 that is connected to the sourceelectrode 48 is arranged on the FFS insulating layer 58. Then, the slits53 are formed in the pixel electrode 52 that is an electrode of thearray substrate 32, disposed on the outermost surface side. Each of theslits 53, as described in conjunction with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is a thinelongated and closed opening having a major axis oriented in a directionthat is slightly inclined relative to the direction in which the gatewiring 40 extends. In addition, the common electrode 60, which serves asthe lower electrode layer, is arranged on the entire surface of thearray substrate 32 or arranged to extend over the plurality of pixels.

Further, in the above embodiment, the slits, each of which is a thinelongated open groove, are described as the openings formed in the upperelectrode layer so that an electric field is passed therethrough.However, it is applicable that the upper electrode structure is formedinto a comb-shape or a palisade-shape. In this case, the electric fieldpasses through an opening formed in the comb-shape or thepalisade-shape.

FIG. 5 is a view of a configuration of the liquid crystal display device30 in which the lower electrode layer serves as the common electrode 60,the upper electrode layer serves as the pixel electrode 52, the pixelelectrode 52 is formed into a comb-shape, and an opening 55 is formedbetween the teeth of the comb-shaped pixel electrode 52 so that anelectric field is passed therethrough. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 1 andspecifically shows the configuration of the array substrate 32. The samereference numerals used in FIG. 5 denote the same or similar componentsto those shown in FIG. 1, and a specific description thereof is omitted.In this case, the pixel electrode 52, which serves as the upperelectrode layer, is formed into a comb-shape. In addition, the commonelectrode 60, which serves as the lower electrode layer, is arrangedover the entire surface of the array substrate 32 or arranged to extendover the plurality of pixels.

Thus, in the FFS mode display device, the slits or the comb-shapedopenings are formed in the upper electrode layer of the array substrate,disposed on the outermost surface side. Therefore, the upper electrodelayer is configured so that electrode portions, which are conductiveportions, and openings, from which conductive portions are removed, arealternately arranged. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electrodeportions 82 and the openings 84 in one pixel 80. In the abovealternately arranged portion, the width of the minor axis of eachopening 84 is defined as S, and the width of each electrode portion 82serving as the conductive portion, which is an interval between theadjacent openings 84, is defined as L. Hereinafter, S is termed as anelectrode interval, and L is termed as an electrode width. Here, theopenings 84 correspond to the above described slits 61, 53, or thecomb-shaped opening 55.

The following will describe an embodiment of an optimum electrodestructure formed in the upper electrode layer of the FFS mode displaydevice with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 13. Simulation of thetransmittance ratio of a liquid crystal display element in the FFSstructure and the V-T curve, which shows a relationship between voltageand transmittance ratio, may be performed using commercially availablesoftware, such as LCD MASTER SHINTECH's software, for example. Then, thesimulation was performed by changing the electrode interval S and/or theelectrode width L where the relationship between a birefringence Δn anda thickness d of the liquid crystal molecules layer is defined asΔnd=0.35.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing V-T curves that are calculated by changing theelectrode interval S where the electrode width L=4.0 μm. The abscissaaxis represents a voltage applied between the pixel electrode and thecommon electrode, and the ordinate axis represents a transmittance ratioT of light from an arbitrary reference point. FIG. 7 demonstrates that,when the combination of the electrode width L and the electrode intervalS is changed, the maximum transmittance ratio varies and the drivingvoltage, which is a voltage that gives the maximum transmittance ratio,varies. In addition, the voltage at a predetermined transmittance ratio,which is a V-T curve parameter, varies with a change in combination of Land S. For example, V10, which is a voltage at a transmittance ratio of10%, V50, which is a voltage at a transmittance ratio of 50%, V90, whichis a voltage at a transmittance ratio of 90%, change in accordance withthe combination of L and S.

FIG. 8 is a view showing changes in maximum transmittance ratio T, usingthe electrode interval S as a parameter, when the electrode width L ischanged. FIG. 9 is a view showing changes in maximum transmittance ratioT, using the electrode width L as a parameter, when the electrodeinterval S is changed. These drawings demonstrate that the maximumtransmittance ratio T is improved the smaller the electrode width L isor the narrower the electrode interval S is.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing changes in maximum transmittance ratio T,using the electrode width L as a parameter, when the sum of L and S ischanged. The results of FIG. 10 demonstrate that it is effective toreduce the sum of L and S in order to improve the maximum transmittanceratio.

On the other hand, FIG. 11 is a graph showing changes in voltage thatexhibits the maximum transmittance ratio, that is, driving voltage,using the electrode width L as a parameter, when the electrode intervalS is changed according to the embodiment of the invention. The resultsof FIG. 11 demonstrate that the driving voltage increases the smallerthe electrode interval S is. Similarly, FIG. 12 is a graph showing whitevoltages that correspond respectively to V10, V50, V90 and V100, whichare parameters of the V-T curves, when the electrode interval S ischanged where the electrode width L is 2 μm or 4 μm according to theembodiment of the invention. The results of FIG. 12 demonstrate thateach of the parameters in the V-T curves is shifted to a high voltageside when the electrode interval S is reduced.

Such a shift in the V-T curves, if the line width L or S fluctuateswithin the surface of a display panel due to variation in themanufacturing process, results in variation in luminance and chrominancenon-uniformity. Hence, the display quality degrades. In addition, themargin of manufacturing process is remarkably reduced and the yield is,thereby, reduced. Thus, in consideration of maintenance of displayquality, securing of the margin of manufacturing process, maintenance ofthe yield, or the like, the shift of the V-T curve needs to be limited.The results of FIG. 12 demonstrate that, when it is considered that theV-T curves do not change particularly in characteristics of V10 to V50,which correspond to intermediate gray-scale levels, the lower limit ofthe electrode interval S is around 4 μm.

On the other hand, the results of simulation shown in FIG. 11demonstrate that the driving voltage increases the smaller the electrodewidth L is. In order to confirm the above characteristics, displaypanels having different electrode widths L were made experimentally withthe electrode interval S actually set to 4 μm or above. FIG. 13 is agraph showing how V50 depends on the electrode width L, resulting fromevaluation of the display panels that were actually made experimentally.The results of FIG. 12 demonstrate that the increase in driving voltagebegins in the region where the electrode interval S is smaller than 4μm. For this reason, it turns out that the lower limit of the electrodewidth L is around 2.5 μm.

Because the results of FIG. 10 demonstrate that the maximumtransmittance ratio T is reduced the larger the sum of L and S is, whenthe above results are combined together, the optimum value of L/S is 2.5μm/4 μm. Alternatively, it may be configured so that, when there is arange of the optimum value, the sum of L and S is equal to or below 10μm, L is equal to or above 2.5 μm, and S is equal to or above 4.0 μm.Accordingly, in the FFS mode liquid crystal display device, it ispossible to set the electrode structure having the upper electrode layerwith high display quality.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a substrate; aninsulating layer; an upper electrode layer; a gate wiring extending in afirst direction; and a lower electrode layer, wherein the upperelectrode layer and the lower electrode layer are formed above a samemajor surface of the substrate with the insulating layer therebetween,wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the upper electrode layerand arranged parallel to each other so that an electric field is passedtherethrough, wherein liquid crystal molecules are driven by applyingvoltage between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer,wherein an electrode width, which corresponds to a distance between theadjacent openings, is L and the width of a minor axis of each of theopenings is S, and when the sum of L and S is equal to or below 10 μm,the electrode width L is equal to or above 2.5 μm and the width S of theminor axis of each of the openings is equal to or above 4.0 μm, andwherein the openings extend in a second direction that is slightlyinclined relative to the first direction.
 2. The liquid crystal displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein an angle of inclination between thefirst direction and the second direction is about 5 degrees.
 3. Theliquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of theopenings is a slit opening that opens with a closed shape.
 4. The liquidcrystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality ofopenings form a comb-shaped opening such that one end of the openingsare connected to each other.
 5. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the upper electrode layer is a commonelectrode layer.
 6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim1, wherein the upper electrode layer is a pixel electrode layer.
 7. Aliquid crystal display device, comprising: a substrate; an insulatinglayer; an upper electrode layer; an alignment layer formed above theupper electrode layer, the alignment layer having been subjected to arubbing process in a first direction; and a lower electrode layer,wherein the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer areformed above a same major surface of the substrate with the insulatinglayer therebetween, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in theupper electrode layer and arranged parallel to each other so that anelectric field is passed therethrough, wherein liquid crystal moleculesare driven by applying voltage between the upper electrode layer and thelower electrode layer, wherein an electrode width, which corresponds toa distance between the adjacent openings, is L and the width of a minoraxis of each of the openings is S, and when the sum of L and S is equalto or below 10 μm, the electrode width L is equal to or above 2.5 μm andthe width S of the minor axis of each of the openings is equal to orabove 4.0 μm, and wherein the openings extend in a second direction thatis slightly inclined relative to the first direction.
 8. The liquidcrystal display device according to claim 7, wherein an angle ofinclination between the first direction and the second direction isabout 5 degrees.
 9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim7, wherein each of the openings is a slit opening that opens with aclosed shape.
 10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim7, wherein the plurality of openings form a comb-shaped opening suchthat one ends of the openings are connected to each other.
 11. Theliquid crystal display device according to claim 7, wherein the upperelectrode layer is a common electrode layer.
 12. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 7, wherein the upper electrode layeris a pixel electrode layer.